Medical CodingCertificate of Achievement

This course explores the specialized language used within the medical profession. Emphasis is placed on the definition, pronunciation and spelling of medical terms with focus on building medical words using prefixes, word roots, suffixes and combining forms. To further advance a working knowledge of these terms, vocabulary is taught in relation to the basic anatomy, physiology and pathology of body systems.

This course is an examination of information and communication technologies used in today's businesses and the impact these technologies are having on today's workplaces. The course will include examination and application of a wide range of information and communication technology tools used to support and enhance business functions and processes. Focus will be placed on solving a variety of business problems, improving organizational productivity, and achieving the goals of business.

This course is intended for students in programs such as Emergency Medical Services and Health Information Management. Topics include fundamentals of the structure and function of the human body from an organ system perspective: Key concepts and basic principles of the chemistry of life, cells and tissues, cell physiology, structural organization and physiological principles in organ systems, system integration, and homeostasis in health and disease. (Not intended for Nursing students).

This course is an introduction to the growing, dynamic profession of Health Information Management (HIM) and provides a foundation for those students pursuing the HIM field including medical office administration and medical coding. Foundational topics include the field of HIM; the purpose, evolution, and structure of US healthcare delivery systems; the purpose, organization, and storage of medical health records; the role of information technology in healthcare; the functions and organization of Electronic Health Records (EHR); the legal aspects of health information; and the standardized usage of classification systems to document diagnoses and procedures to support reimbursement methods, data management, and research in healthcare.

This course introduces students to the medical coding classification systems used in the United States healthcare industry: International Classification of Diseases 10 Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). Through analysis of case histories and surgical reports, students will learn to distinguish between primary and secondary diagnoses codes, to assign the proper procedural codes, and to explain the importance of accurate medical documentation and clinical records.

Work experience is an experiential course where students apply what they have learned in the classroom to a work environment. The course offers students the opportunity to develop technical skills, explore possible career choices, build confidence, network with people in the field, and transition into the world of work. Work experience may include paid or unpaid employment. Students may earn one semester unit of college credit in this course for every fifty-one hours of work experience. Students may enroll in this course up to 8 unit(s) to complete the entire curriculum of the course. A maximum of sixteen units can be earned in work experience courses during a student’s enrollment with Butte College.

Prerequisite: Permission of Work Experience Education instructor and employment supervisor

This course introduces students to legal and ethical issues they will encounter while working in the field of Health Information Management (HIM). Topics include an overview of legal issues relating to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare delivery, ethics, judicial processes, and standards of care. This course also includes bioethical and moral issues related to HIM and how they affect the day-to-day operations of medical offices.

This course introduces students to the reimbursement methodologies used in healthcare in the United States. The focus of the course will be on the accurate preparation and maintenance of clinical records and medical documentation. Students will analyze insurance plans spanning government and private sectors and learn to properly complete the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claim form (CMS 1500) used in medical outpatient facilities. Topics include working with specific insurance companies, filing error-free claims, resubmitting denied claims, utilizing effective collection strategies, and handling the appeal process.

This is an advanced course in medical coding for both outpatient and inpatient procedures and services. The course will include a brief review of International Classification of Diseases 10 Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). By following steps in the coding selection and sequencing process, students will assign appropriate procedure and service codes. Students will use the International Classification of Diseases 10 Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) and CPT (including Evaluation & Management Code (E&M), Audits, Modifiers, and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)) classification systems in this process.

Prerequisite: HIM 62

This course introduces students to Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and their place in healthcare. The curriculum reinforces the relationship between all of the components needed for a complete patient medical record including the clinical, administrative, and reimbursement components. Topics in this class are based on the national curriculum competencies developed by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).